The town board of East Hampton, Long Island, in New York State has voted unanimously to create a domestic-partners registry for same-sex and opposite-sex partners, reports Newsday. It is the first town on Long Island to do so.

The town's domestic-partners registry will start up as soon as the legislation is registered with the New York secretary of state's office, a process that normally takes about three weeks. Once implemented, unmarried couples 18 or older will be able to pay a $25 filing fee and declare that they are each other's sole domestic partner and are in "a relationship of mutual support, caring, and commitment and are responsible for each other's welfare."